Native American Tribes

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The United States government, as of January of 2023, officially recognizes 574 tribes.

In the United States, an Indian tribe is a fundamental unit, and the constitution grants Congress the right to interact with tribes. Federal tribal recognition grants to tribes the right to certain benefits and is largely controlled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In addition to those tribes that are recognized, hundreds of others have not yet achieved recognition. These unrecognized tribes are organizations of people who claim to be historically, culturally, or genetically related to historic Native American Indian tribes but are not officially recognized as indigenous nations by the United States federal government.

Founding Fathers courtesy Native American.com

Founding Fathers courtesy Native American.com

Lengthy and expensive “recognition” procedures are required to qualify for government economic and health-care assistance, protection of sacred burial grounds, and other benefits.

Among the program’s many problems is that more than 100 tribes currently classified by the government as “unrecognized” already signed treaties with the feds many years ago, but Congress never ratified those agreements.

“What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across  the grass and loses itself in the sunset.”  

— Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior, and orator

 

List of Native American Tribes in the U.S.

List of Notable Native Americans

Native American Heroes and Legends

Native American Photo Galleries

Some of our Featured Tribe Articles (see list for more):

©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated November 2023.

Tribal Leaders by Edward S. Curtis, about 1900

Tribal Leaders by Edward S. Curtis, about 1900

Also See:

List of Native American Tribes in the U.S.

Ancient Cities of Native Americans

Heroes & Leaders

Native Americans – First Owners of America

Native American Photo Galleries